I'm going to start by saying I wanted a small car and that is the main reason I bought this. I tested the Corsa to compare against it. The Polo was out of my budget and I didn't want an ugly Fiesta.
I find the 208 trickier to drive than I did with the Corsa. The biting point is higher than on any other car I've ever driven and gear change and clutch control has to be very precise and smooth or you get a fair amount of juddering between shifts. Having said that the car Is a lot of fun, even for a 1.2, and pretty quick. A lot quicker than the equivalent priced 1.2 Corsa which was slower than a HGV. You also get a lot more for your money compared to the Corsa and like. Having Leather seats makes it very comfortable. Automatic Lights and wipers I use all the time and they work very well. Auto Dual climate control is excellent. And I'm forgetting the TV in the middle which I love, although there can be lag, and connects to anything.
If you get the five door there will be plenty of room in the back. None of my mates have complained about space. I think the Allure is definitely worth getting over the Active if you're prepared to pay the extra.
Hope it was helpful.Best thing to do is book a test drive.